New Kansas governor reverses Sebelius on coal-fired plant

TOPEKA, Kan. — In a reversal from his predecessor, Gov. Mark Parkinson signed an agreement ending a two-year fight over plans to build coal-fired power plants in western Kansas.

The compromise allows Sunflower Electric Power Corp. to build one 895-megawatt coal-fired power plant near Holcomb, instead of two 700-megawatt plants that were repeatedly blocked by Kathleen Sebelius when she was governor. In exchange for the go-ahead, which Parkinson gave Monday, Sunflower will build more wind turbines and agree to more pollution controls and a greater investment in energy efficiency.

The game-changing deal came on Parkinson’s sixth day in office and as lawmakers were preparing yet another attempt to overrule Sebelius’ veto of legislation to authorize the plants.